By MARK CASHMAN

Lot of talk this week further up the chain about having to play the best to compete with the best and that’s the attitude that Eastern Suburbs coach Pauli Taumoepeau has taken into the Beasties’ Round Nine clash against Northern Suburbs on Saturday.

The Beasties head into the weekend rumble with Norths at Woollahra Oval with a five and three record from their eight games, but it must be said that expectations have been a little further north of that.

Many thought that they should be further up the competition at this stage of the Shute Shield but there have been signs in recent weeks that it’s starting to come together.